It's Been A Long, Long Time // Steve Rogers

Chapter 25

"Okay, Howard...you just can't tell anyone." I explained as we walked up the steps to Steve and I's apartment. "You can't be serious-" "He doesn't want to be found." Howard huffed and I slowly unlocked the door to the apartment. "Steve?" I called out.

Scout was the first one to me, eagerly jumping on me until he spotted Howard. Scout's attention shifted entirely to him and I smiled at the interaction. "Hey sweetheart-" Steve froze as he looked at his old friend standing behind me with wide eyes. Very aware that I had just called him Steve in front of Howard. "It's okay. I told him..."

"Rebecca..." Steve started but Howard's voice cut him off.

"Steve?" Howard put his hand on my shoulder before approaching him. "Is it really you, pal?" "It's really me, Howard." Steve replied, clearing his throat. Howard took a deep breath and pulled him into a tight hug. "I thought you were dead."

"Well, technically, I'm frozen." Steve said, returning the tight hug. "How long have you been here?" Howard asked. "A few years. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Howard. It was easier if no one knew. Becca wasn't even supposed to know but she kind of recognized me." 

"How?"

"Howard, I know you must have so many questions but I don't know if I can answer them. I'm not supposed to create any alternate realities... and I can't be sure that telling you won't create one. And to be honest, it's not something I even fully understand." Steve explained. "Alternate reality? Because of time travel?" Steve sent me a short glare and I smiled. Oops, I had already told him about that. "Who figured it out?"

"Well...your son actually..." Steve said.

"I have a son??" Howard started to breath heavily and I helped him sit down on the couch. "I have a son..." "He's brilliant like you too, Howard." Howard still looked like he was going to pass out so I quickly went to get him a glass of water. "A son..." Steve nodded, sitting in front of him at the coffee table. After a few minutes of staring off into space, Howard looked back at Steve. "Can you tell me more? Just about you? Who found you...when?" Steve sighed but nodded. I sat down next to Howard as Steve explained what had happened to him and how he was found.

"I just...I could-" "I don't want to be found, Howard." Steve cut him off. "But-" "Did it suck to wake up in a new world where all of the people I once knew were gone...yes...but if I hadn't gone through all of that...I might not be here today with Becca." Steve's hand reached out and grasped mine, "And she's my world."

I smiled at him and Howard looked between us. He saw the love we shared and looked down at his hands. "So, I get married huh?" Howard laughed nervously. "You do. It was hard for me to believe at first." Steve joked. "Can you at least tell me her name?"

"If he tells you her name...that takes away all the fun of dating Howard." I pushed his shoulder slightly. "The first letter then?" Steve laughed and shook his head. "M. Her name starts with M." "M." Howard repeated. Probably thinking about all the women he's slept with whose name starts with M.

"Becca what was that lead rockette's name?"

"Howard!" I laughed and shook my head. "It started with an M didn't it?" I rolled my eyes at him and he pulled me into a side hug. "You don't even remember her name?" I laughed. "It slipped my mind..." He mumbled. "It was Maria."

"Maria. That was it! Maybe she's my future wife then." He smiled. "If she is then you have a lot of work to do. No way she would give you another chance." "It was a fun night." I rolled my eyes as Howard smiled and stood up. Steve stood up as well and held out his hand for Howard to shake. "I know I wasn't supposed to know but, it really is good to see you pal." "You too, Howard." They embraced one another again and I smiled.

Howard pulled away and turned to look at me, "consider the weapons done."

"Weapons? What weapons?" Steve asked, looking between the two of us. "Zola...he was pulled into making weapons with the cube. But I'll convince Phillips and Carter not to move forward with them. Becca, I'll see you bright and early tomorrow. Steve...let's grab a beer. Since you can't get drunk, you'll supervise because I need a lot of them after this conversation. I have so many questions." Howard muttered. Steve patted him on the back and walked him towards the door.

Once he was gone, Steve turned to look at me, "really?"

"I couldn't help it! Zola was going to use those weapons to probably overtake SHIELD for Hydra." Steve's brows furrowed. "But he never did. Hydra grew, yes, but those weapons weren't made until later." Steve got lost in thought and stared off into space. "Steve?"

"Sorry, I just...maybe...everything is fine." "Fine?" He nodded. Steve pulled me into his arms and placed a kiss on my forehead. "I love you." He mumbled into my hair. "I love you too, Stevie."

"So what did he do to that Rockette...?"

-

Walking into SHIELD the next day, I felt lighter. Significantly less guilty than I had been feeling. I made my way into the lab where Howard stood talking to Zola. I smiled at Howard and glared at Zola. "STARK!" Colonel Phillips' voice boomed down the stairs. "That doesn't sound good. Becca, guard the cube." Howard said, closing it in a briefcase and running up the stairs.

I looked up and my eyes met Zola's. I silently pulled the case containing the cube towards me. "What did you say to him?" Zola asked me, his gaze locked on me. "What?"

"You said something. About these weapons. Now all of a sudden, he doesn't want to make them? Why?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said, continuing to act aloof. He huffed and looked around. I felt a chill run up my spine as he looked back and smirked at me. "Do you know what happened to your brother?" He asked. "Yes." "He fell from a train."

"I know how he died." I snapped. Zola laughed slightly and shook his head. "You know, I was experimenting on him. I was trying to figure out a way to replicate the serum. Super soldier serum. I was close. If the Captain hadn't raided our base that day..." "Get to the point." I snapped, cutting him off. He only smirked again, "my point is fräulein, that your brother...he isn't dead. He survived that fall because of my experiments. My serum. He was found by some of Hydra's associates..."

My heart rate increased drastically as I stared at him. Here he was, telling me Bucky was alive. Why? Why would he tell Bucky's last living relative that her brother is alive. "What?" I mumbled.

"He's doing well. He remembers you...but not for long." The walls seemed to close in on me as he revealed this information. Sure I knew Bucky was alive...but not the details. Zola was giving me details. I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Give me my brother back." I said, narrowing my eyes at him. "Oh you'll be reunited with him in due time...but not now." Zola said. "Are you threatening me?" I asked and he shrugged. "I'll tell Howard and Phillips." And Steve...but I couldn't tell Zola that. He didn't need to know that Captain America was really alive. That would be bad.

The sinister smirk never left his face, "No you won't. Because if anything happens to me...or if you even breathe a word of this conversation to anyone, I'll make sure your brother is killed for good. And you wouldn't want that, would you?"

I slowly shook my head and he smiled. His demeanor did a complete 180 as Howard's footsteps descended back down the stairs and into the lab. He lowered his voice and whispered, "Hail Hydra, Ms. Barnes."

A/N: sorry for the later update! I was just so busy and wanted to make sure I proof read this & I finally had time 😊 hope you enjoyed...more dramatic chapters to come!